N. Myrtle Beach, SC - 7/16/11

Finally after a week of waiting, we need to get ready to move. Returned the rental car, mailed a couple boxes home, paid the marina bill and filled up with fuel (117 gallons @ $3.75).

We pulled away from the fuel dock at 10:45 and headed for N. Myrtle beach. This part of the Waccamaw River is gorgeous.

The water is brackish .. not totally salt or fresh.

Trouble ... the transmission that we had the oil cooler replaced on lost all pressure and oil, again! I called the mechanic that had worked on it sure that something had gone wrong with the repair job. We had only gone about an hour and had just passed Bucksport Marina when it happened so we turned around and went back to that marina until he came a couple hours later. As it turned out, a small nipple between a pressure gauge and the transmission had ruptured and put all 2 quarts of fluid in the bilge so a quick trip to Lowe's and we were back on the water by 4 p.m. with 20 miles to go.

We went past many pretty homes as we got closer to Myrtle Beach.

The water turned fresh as we got closer but also turned brown from all the Cypress trees that line the shores. This will leave a mustache on the bow of the boat that is not easy to take off.

We got to Barefoot Marina at 7 p.m. and with the help of Skip & Barb got into our slip beside them in a stiff wind.

The four of us enjoyed a pizza on our sundeck and witnessed a full moon rising. A long day has come to an end. Tomorrow we are moving again toward Southport, NC.

Our position here is N 33 48.135 W 78 44.744